Body Part

Signs

Deficiencies

Hair

Color change
Easy pluckability, sparseness
Alopecia
Brittle
Dryness

Protein-energy malnutrition
Biotin, zinc, vitamins A and E

Skin

Acneiform lesions
Follicular keratosis (scalelike plaques)
Xerosis (dry skin)
Ecchymoses; petechiae (hemorrhagic spots)
Thickening and hyperpigmentation of pressure points
Scrotal dermatosis

Vitamin A
Vitamin A or essential fatty acids
Vitamin A
Vitamins C and K
Niacin
Niacin and riboflavin

Eyes

Pale conjunctiva (pale coloring of eyelid lining and whites of the eyes)
Bitot’s spots (foamy spots on the whites of the eyes)
Conjunctival xerosis (inner lids and whites appear dull, rough)
Angular palpebritis (corners of eyes are cracked, red)

Iron, folate, or vitamin B12
Vitamin A
Vitamin A
Riboflavin and niacin

Mouth

Decreased production of salivary fluids
Angular stomatitis (cracked, red, flaky at corner of mouth)
Bleeding gums
Cheilosis (vertical cracks of lips)

Vitamin A
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Riboflavin

Tongue

Atrophic papillae (smooth, pale, slick tongue)
Glossitis (red, painful tongue)
Magenta tongue (purplish, red tongue)

Folate, niacin, riboflavin, iron, or vitamin B12
Folate, niacin, and vitamin B12
Riboflavin

Nails

Koilonychia (concave, spoon-shaped)

Iron

Extremities

Genu valgum or varum (knocked knees or bowed legs)
Loss of deep tendon reflexes of lower extremities

Vitamin D or calcium
Thiamin and vitamin B12